Salt Bae’s burger joint, once branded “the worst in NYC,” is closing after critics touted exorbitant prices, pretentious atmosphere “with all the charm of an airplane hangar”
- A sign on the door of Salt Bae Burger near Union Square Park said it was moving
- It comes after the burger joint was labeled New York City’s “worst restaurant.”
The Salt Bae burger joint once slammed as New York City’s “worst restaurant” has closed.
Salt Bae Burger New York, owned by Turkish restaurateur Nusret Gökçe, closed its doors this month with a sign on the door saying it was “moving to a new location.”
It comes after the restaurant was labeled by critics as having “all the charm of an airplane hangar” and the “worst restaurant” in town.
But the burger chain’s menu will still be served at a different address from the Nusr-Et Steakhouse, Salt Bae Burger’s parent company, a spokesperson for the brand said. Eater NY.
Salt Bae Burger opened at 220 Park Avenue South, near Union Square Park, just a month before the pandemic closed restaurants to indoor dining.
The Salt Bae burger joint (pictured) that was once slammed when New York City’s ‘worst restaurant’ closed
Salt Bae Burger, owned by Turkish restaurateur Nusret Gökçe (pictured), closed this month with a sign on its door saying it was ‘moving to a new location’
The restaurant was quickly criticized for having “the charm of an airplane hangar,” with critics saying the food was overpriced. A Gothamist food critic added that it was the “worst restaurant” in New York City.
The brand was a follow-up to Mr Gökçe’s Nusr-Et steakhouse, a famous restaurant with more than 20 locations around the world.
But the parent company was hit with multiple lawsuits accusing it of sexual harassment and wage theft.
In 2020, Nusr-Et CEO Al Avci said there was “not a single problem” in the company’s restaurants.
Nusr-Et and Mr Gökçe were approached for comment.
Although Salt Bae had made a name for himself in the restaurant business, his life changed overnight in 2017 when he shared a video of himself cooking an Ottoman steak in his signature style on Instagram.
The restaurant was quickly criticized for having “the charm of an airplane hangar,” with critics saying the food was overpriced
The video – which has been viewed more than 17 million times – shows the butcher spreading salt on the meat with his hand in the shape of a ‘cobra’.
Dressed in a white t-shirt and form-fitting black jeans, the “sensual” move earned Nusret the title of “sexiest butcher on Instagram.”
“All my feelings come from within the flesh,” he told NBC. “Until I put the salt on the meat.”
He also sparked outrage last year when he appeared on the pitch after the World Cup final, celebrating with Lionel Messi and his teammates and even holding the iconic trophy.